Caster-support for trunks.



No. 693,034. Patented Feb. I902."

c. H. KURZ. 1 EASTER SUPPDBT'FOB TRUNKS.

(Application 'filed June 8, 1901.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. KURZ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CASTER-gSUPPORT FOR TRUNKS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 693,034, dated February 11, 1902.

Application filed June 8,1901. Serial No. 63,725. (No model.) l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KURZ, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Caster-Supports for Trunks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to caster-supports for trunks; and its object is to provide means for supporting the trunk at a distance from the floor, so that it is made more accessible, and when a trunk having a flat top is used it is made available for use as a table; also, to so arrange and construct such supporting means that it may be folded to conceal the casters with which it is provided within the trunk and be held in that position against all possibility of accidental unfolding while in transit by the closing and locking of the trunkcover, and to provide certain other new and useful features hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a square trunk with my caster-support attached, the support being shown as in use and the trunkcover open to show the recesses to receive the casters. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cylindrical or barrel trunk to which my caster-support is adapted, the trunk and support being shown in the closed position for shipping.

As shown in the drawings, A is the body of the trunk, and B the cover hinged thereto in the ordinary manner, the corners of both being bound for greater strength and for appearance with angle-iron C. To each end of the bodyA is hinged the frame D, having the leg portions D formed of angle-iron similar to that with which the trunk is bound, and the curved band D connecting the lower ends of said leg portions, which ends are formed with a web D connecting the sides of the angle-iron and forming a lower end for the leg portions D for the attachment of the casters E. The frame D is hinged to the trunk by forming one member of each hinge on the upper end of the side of the angle-iron O, which extends upward on the end of the trunk and is securedthreto, and the opposite member on the end/of one side of the leg portion D. The corners of the body A are cut away, as at F, for the reception of thewebs D when the frames D are turned up, and partitions are put across the corners inside the cover B to form the recesses G to receive the casters when the cover is lowered. Hooks H are secured to the side of the body A near its bottom and adapted to engage studs or eyes I on the frame D to hold the frame in the position to support the trunk, said frame being held in closed position when not in use by the engagement of the cover 13 with the ends of the legs D and the casters E. It will thus be seen that when the cover is lowered and locked in the usual manner there is no possibility of the legs becoming unfastened and dropping down, and the easters being thereby fully protected by being entirely inclosed within the cover I am enabled to use any desired size and form of caster, which is a great advantage on heavy trunks, greatly facilitating the moving of the same along the floor or carpet. Greater strength is secured by forming the legs D of angle-iron, and when folded they form part of the angle-iron O to strengthen the trunk and carry out the design. By forming the hinge for the frame D nearer the bottom of the trunk the trunk may be raised farther from the floor to make it more accessible and if it has a flat top to make it available for use as a table.

My device may be applied to any form of trunk by changing the outline of the frame D, its application to a barrel trunk being shown in Fig. 2, the recesses G being formed in the upper half or cover, the same as in a square trunk.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a caster-support for trunks, in combination with a trunk having a cover provided with recesses, legs hinged to the ends of said trunk at one end, casters secured to the opposite ends of said legs, said legs being adapted to be turned upward to engage said casters Withsaid recesses in the cover and hold said legs in the upturned position, and means for locking the legs in the position for supporting the trunk.

2. A caster-support for trunks, consisting IOC of legs adapted to be hinged at one end to the ends of atrunk and extended laterally at their opposite ends, and casters secured to the laterally-projecting portions of said legs, said legs being adapted to be turned downward to. support the trunk and to be turned upward to bring said casters beneath the trunk-cover. 3. A support for trunks, consisting of legs formed 5f angle-iron, a web extending across the inner angle of each of said legs at one of its ends, hinges in the opposite ends of said legs to allow the legs to be turned down to support the trunk and to be turned up to engage the corners of the trunk, and means for holding the legs in the position for supporting the trunk. y

4. In a caster-support for trunks, in combination with a trunk having portions cut away at its upper corners, and a cover, a supporting-frame hinged to each end of said trunk consisting of legs formed of angle-iron and connected by a bar, a web extending across the inner angle of each leg near its end, castending across its inner angle, and a bar connecting said legs, casters on said webs and means for holding said supporting-frames in the position for. supporting the trunk.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. 7

CHARLES II. KURZ. Witnesses:

OTTO F. BARTHEL, JOSEPH A. NoELKE. 

